FAQ
Note: This topic is under construction; answers to common questions from users are being added on an ongoing basis.
Contents
- 1 The basics
- 2 Display questions
- 3 Origin and measurement questions
- 3.1 Does the origin refer to the outside of the case, the inside, or somewhere in between?
- 3.2 How do I reference the inner wall of a face?
- 3.3 On what side do I place self-clinching fasteners (PEMs)?
- 3.4 If a PEM is specified as 0.5” long, is this referenced to the outside or inside of the enclosure in which the PEM is placed?
- 4 Help questions
The basics
How do I get started with Protocase Designer?
For a description of Protocase Designer, who uses it, how it works, and how you can get started, see Learn More
Display questions
How do I zoom in the 3D View?
If your pointing device has a wheel, rotate it to zoom. If your pointing device does not have a wheel, open the Face Editor and use the Zoom In and Zoom Out buttons on the toolbar or the Zoom commands in the View menu. See Zooming.
Why is an item from my personal cutout library not displayed in the 3D View?
If you used the Cutout Library Manager > Create Sub Assembly command to create the item, this feature has not yet been fully implemented, and images are not yet displayed in the 3D View.
Origin and measurement questions
Does the origin refer to the outside of the case, the inside, or somewhere in between?
For all our current enclosure designs, the origin is on the bottom front left outside corner of the enclosure base.
How do I reference the inner wall of a face?
Measure from the origin the amount you wish, plus the thickness of the face material. For example, to have a component stick 1" up on the inside of an enclosure, you would place it 1", plus the thickness of the material, from the origin. When you click on a face of any of our current enclosure designs, it shows you the outside of the enclosure.
On what side do I place self-clinching fasteners (PEMs)?
Place them on the side (inside or outside) of the enclosure that you want them to stick up out of. For example, when placing PEMs that are to be on the inside, first select the Back button in the Face Editor toolbar, then place the PEM. If you accidentally place it on the outside, you can edit the face, select the PEM, then clear the On This Side checkbox in the Extended Properties panel. Note: If the PEM is a nut, usually nuts stick out a bit from the back of where you want to screw them in, so if you are screwing them in from the outside or front of the enclosure, you would place them on the inside or back. This is not required, but allows a flush connection. For details, see http://www.protocasedesigner.com/wiki/index.php/Selecting_height_of_self-clinching_fasteners_based_on_material_thickness
If a PEM is specified as 0.5” long, is this referenced to the outside or inside of the enclosure in which the PEM is placed?
All PEMs except concealed head fasteners and nuts are fully inserted into the hole, so if it is placed on the inside or back of the case, its size is referenced to the outside or front of the case. For example, if a PEM is .5" long, it will stick out .5" minus the thickness of the material.
Help questions
How do I view and edit this wiki?
For help in viewing and editing the Protocase Designer Documentation wiki, see Wiki Editing Help.
Where else do I look for the answer to my question?
For questions about Designer that you can't find the answers to in on this site, please email [Designer]. For all other questions, please email [Protocase].
